I hope everyone’s hunting season has gone well this year. Mine has been fairly good so far. As I’m writing this column it is the first of February and I’m looking forward to my hunting in the month ahead. I went this afternoon and I think my dog tried to walk me to death. She was changing zip codes between trees. But I’m not complaining too badly. She made nine trees and I managed to kill seven. Not a bad day after all.
I traveled to Lawley, Alabama, on the 23rd of January to assist the guys at the Mid-State Coon Hunters with their first UKC Squirrel Hunt. They had a great turnout, with 15 dogs in the morning hunt, and 13 in the afternoon. The weather did not cooperate, as reflected by the scores, with not many squirrels being seen, but everyone seemed to have a great time. The Feists dominated the Registered portion of the hunt, as the morning hunt was won by Tate’s Rocky, owned and handled by Hunter Tate, who is 14 years old. He was also the high scoring dog of both hunts. The afternoon hunt was won by Lud’s Prince Razza-Ma-Tazz, owned and handled by Mike Rudd. The afternoon Champion Class was won by a Mountain Cur by the name of SQ CH Moseley’s Thomas, owned and handled by Ryan Moseley of Equality, Alabama.
The squirrel dog men and women who have come together with the Mid-State Coon Hunters have done a wonderful job in organizing these hunts and I’m sure they will continue to do so. They have a wonderful facility with plenty of woods nearby to handle several casts. The Mid-State Coon Hunters have been in existence for many years. They are one of the few coon clubs in the state that have a pond close by in which to conduct swim races. I guess when it gets a little warmer we will see if the Curs and Feist are also good at swimming.
I know a lot of you are looking forward to the 20th of March, which is the date of the 2010 UKC World Squirrel Hunt. It is being held in Franklin, Indiana, and hosted by the Johnson County Houndsmen’s Club. If you have not been able to get qualified as of now, don’t forget the two qualifying hunts that will be on Friday, the 19th, at the club. This gives anyone who’s not previously qualified a chance to do so. Be sure to get qualified and be a part of this prestigious event. It will be one that you will not want to miss.
Until next month, I’ll see you Out On A Limb.